Posted on Dec 7, 2018
What are your experiences with OFS (Operation Freedom's Sentinel)? What are the biggest challenges?
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BLUF: I am working on a group project for a college class; great opportunity to learn and to win hearts and minds stateside. The project involves analyzing a conflict, to include someone who is working towards peace in said conflict. We chose OFS. In regards to OFS, can you comment on:
- how do you think the U.S., our allies, and various other nations are working towards peace and reconciliation?
- what are some of the challenges that you have been facing or have faced?
* We believe the bigger 17 year picture is relevant, not just the last 3 years, thus any experience from OIF, OEF, etc. is relevant.
Anything you post will not be used in the project without your permission, and you will be kept anonymous unless you want to be named.
Thank you for your time.
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I don't think it matters much who I am, other than being an American citizen, but I know this background stuff is important to some. Thus, I am an OEF veteran. I deployed '09-'10 to RC-West with the 12th CAB out of Germany. I've been in the Army 10 years, formerly active, now a full-time student, dual-military. I am currently in ROTC, set to commission late next year. Father of 3, former 92G, former 68W. Theology major, minor in lots of other stuff.
I am working on a project for a Peace and Conflict Studies class at Wheaton College, IL. My partner is Miles L., an intelligent and perceptive fellow student, new to all this military stuff. We are producing a paper and a powerpoint. We are interviewing ROTC cadre, but also wanted to tap into the wealth of experience in RP and ask for you perspective on the topic. Anything you post will not be used in the paper without your permission, and you will be kept anonymous unless you want to be named. The prompt for the assignment is as follows:
- expound on the origins and nature of the conflict,
- explain the hindrances to a peace settlement, and
- either identify and analyze a group or person who is working towards peace and
reconciliation in this conflict (it is especially good if you know someone personally)
- or propose means of overcoming these hindrances.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a great opportunity for civilians in my class to understand the war, not just little ole' me. Anything you contribute is greatly appreciated and I take this project very seriously. We would also be very thankful for any recommended resources.
--- Project went well, we all learned something. People enjoyed it. ----
- how do you think the U.S., our allies, and various other nations are working towards peace and reconciliation?
- what are some of the challenges that you have been facing or have faced?
* We believe the bigger 17 year picture is relevant, not just the last 3 years, thus any experience from OIF, OEF, etc. is relevant.
Anything you post will not be used in the project without your permission, and you will be kept anonymous unless you want to be named.
Thank you for your time.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I don't think it matters much who I am, other than being an American citizen, but I know this background stuff is important to some. Thus, I am an OEF veteran. I deployed '09-'10 to RC-West with the 12th CAB out of Germany. I've been in the Army 10 years, formerly active, now a full-time student, dual-military. I am currently in ROTC, set to commission late next year. Father of 3, former 92G, former 68W. Theology major, minor in lots of other stuff.
I am working on a project for a Peace and Conflict Studies class at Wheaton College, IL. My partner is Miles L., an intelligent and perceptive fellow student, new to all this military stuff. We are producing a paper and a powerpoint. We are interviewing ROTC cadre, but also wanted to tap into the wealth of experience in RP and ask for you perspective on the topic. Anything you post will not be used in the paper without your permission, and you will be kept anonymous unless you want to be named. The prompt for the assignment is as follows:
- expound on the origins and nature of the conflict,
- explain the hindrances to a peace settlement, and
- either identify and analyze a group or person who is working towards peace and
reconciliation in this conflict (it is especially good if you know someone personally)
- or propose means of overcoming these hindrances.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a great opportunity for civilians in my class to understand the war, not just little ole' me. Anything you contribute is greatly appreciated and I take this project very seriously. We would also be very thankful for any recommended resources.
--- Project went well, we all learned something. People enjoyed it. ----
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Peace
Conflict
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 2
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- We are losing ground in villages and provinces. The Taliban will use sugar or bullets to meet that end.
- Many of the Afghans see the government as illegitimate because it is corrupt and does not fully support the people.
- For various reasons, the Afghan military is weak.
- Many of the Afghans see the government as illegitimate because it is corrupt and does not fully support the people.
- For various reasons, the Afghan military is weak.
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One of the biggest challenges is US/coalition leadership never fully realized or embraced certain aspects of Afghan culture.
For example. If you ask someone from the United States, “what are you, where are you from?” (And then continue to drill down)
Our answers will generally be, “I’m American. Massachusetts. Boston. Dorchester heights. My family is Irish”.
If you ask an Afghan that same question, it’ll be, “I’m Alizai, Duranni, Pashtun, from Musa Qala, Helmand. In Afghanistan”.
We simply view the world differently. Our commanders pull their hair out trying to figure out why ANSF/ANA/ANP, etc is a dumpster fire. But they forget to remember that Afghan society doesn’t have a 250 year tradition of selfless military service for a greater unified cause. They have a 2500 year tradition of fiercely individual, loyal service that is centered on multiple tribes (and factions within those tribes). 18 years of trying to do things ‘the American way’ just isn’t gonna cut it.
Ultimately, Afghans want to be left alone to live in a semi-stone age. After 9/11, the Taliban offered several times to hand Bin Laden over to the west. (Stipulations were, it couldn’t be the United States, and the US had to show evidence that Al-Qaeda was responsible). In hindsight, two decades later, would that have been a reasonable deal? He gets sent to a neutral country, like Sweden, and then dies in an ‘accident’.
(*note, he had to die. Even if it took 5 decades).
But to achieve peace. We have to accept that we either need complete victory (which were not willing to go do) or we have to accept that we’re going to sign some ‘peace’ accords with some pretty nasty folks who, immediately after we leave, will immediately resume fighting amongst themselves for control of their country.
Best of luck
For example. If you ask someone from the United States, “what are you, where are you from?” (And then continue to drill down)
Our answers will generally be, “I’m American. Massachusetts. Boston. Dorchester heights. My family is Irish”.
If you ask an Afghan that same question, it’ll be, “I’m Alizai, Duranni, Pashtun, from Musa Qala, Helmand. In Afghanistan”.
We simply view the world differently. Our commanders pull their hair out trying to figure out why ANSF/ANA/ANP, etc is a dumpster fire. But they forget to remember that Afghan society doesn’t have a 250 year tradition of selfless military service for a greater unified cause. They have a 2500 year tradition of fiercely individual, loyal service that is centered on multiple tribes (and factions within those tribes). 18 years of trying to do things ‘the American way’ just isn’t gonna cut it.
Ultimately, Afghans want to be left alone to live in a semi-stone age. After 9/11, the Taliban offered several times to hand Bin Laden over to the west. (Stipulations were, it couldn’t be the United States, and the US had to show evidence that Al-Qaeda was responsible). In hindsight, two decades later, would that have been a reasonable deal? He gets sent to a neutral country, like Sweden, and then dies in an ‘accident’.
(*note, he had to die. Even if it took 5 decades).
But to achieve peace. We have to accept that we either need complete victory (which were not willing to go do) or we have to accept that we’re going to sign some ‘peace’ accords with some pretty nasty folks who, immediately after we leave, will immediately resume fighting amongst themselves for control of their country.
Best of luck
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SGT (Join to see)
Feel free. No need to attribute it to me. Use it as your own. But I reread it and realized that I didn’t really sum it up concisely.
The point was, after nearly two decades, our leadership still doesn’t understand what it would take to win, what it would take for peace, what it would take for etc, etc. A total lack of base understanding of the culture has really made the war a total sh*t show.
Best of luck.
The point was, after nearly two decades, our leadership still doesn’t understand what it would take to win, what it would take for peace, what it would take for etc, etc. A total lack of base understanding of the culture has really made the war a total sh*t show.
Best of luck.
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